E DITI Building Strong in Korea! US Army Corps of Engineers Far East District AST GATE Vol. 27, No. 5 N New Worship Center in final stages of construction at Camp Humphreys By Antwaun J. Parrish FED Public Affairs O n Feb. 3, 1943 the United States Army Transport Dorchester was sinking in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean, as chaos was unfolding amongst the 902 service men, merchant seamen and civilian workers, it was recorded that four chaplains brought hope in despair and light in darkness. The chaplains handed out life jackets and gave away their own, as the ship sank the four chaplains stood with their arms linked and braced and could be heard offering prayers. In honor of those four chaplains, a new chapel is being constructed on Camp Humphreys, South Korea. The Four Chaplains Chapel is expected to be ready for operation by this summer. Rapp explained that the chapel will serve as the USAG Humphreys main chapel in a location that wouldn t be recognizable from when he first arrived to the post. We are at the 98 percent construction completion percentage for this project, said Tim Rapp, a senior construction control representative. The turnover task force will come out to inspect the project toward the end, prior to the Department of Public Work s final inspection. The chapel is centrally located in the main part of what is known as the new lands, said Rapp. Continued on Page 3 Four Chaplains Memorial Chapel, USAG Humphreys, March 16. (Photo by Antwaun J. Parrish) -1-
FED, JED and POD participate in a military planning workshop Members of the Pacific Ocean Division, Japan District and the Far East District came together to participate in a military planning and contingency workshop from March 26-30. (Photo by Yo Kyong-il) E AST GATE US Army Corps of Engineers Far East District The DITI N is an authorized publication for members of the Far East District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Contents of this publication are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, DoD, DA, or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is published monthly by the Public Affairs Office, Far East District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, APO AP 96205-5546. Telephone: DSN 721-7301 E-mail: DLL-CEPOF-WEB-PA@usace.army.mil -2- District Commander Col. Teresa A. Schlosser Public Affairs Officer Stephen Satkowski Public Affairs Staff Antwaun J. Parrish Kim Chong-yun Yi Yong-un Check out the Far East District web site at www.pof.usace.army.mil
Building Strong in Korea! New Worship Center in final stages of construction at Camp Humphreys Continued from Page 1 He explained that the area is known as the new lands because when he first arrived to USAG Humphreys the area where the chapel sits was mostly muddy marsh. Since then it has been built up with roads and many other buildings due to the land development of the area. Rapp stated that he anticipates this building being turned over in the next two to three months and being actively used. The chapel is well constructed and the U.S. Army will get plenty of us out of it for years to come, said Rapp. Tim Rapp observes the final construction touches of the Four Chaplains Memorial Chapel, Camp Humphreys, March 16. (Photo by Antwaun J. Parrish) By Kimberly Turnage FED Workforce Management Administrative leave (also referred to as excused absence ) is an administratively authorized absence from duty without loss of pay or charge to leave. The regulation that covers administrative leave is 5 U.S.C. 301-302. The President or the Office of Personnel Management may issue government wide policies or guidance regarding a specific use of administrative leave. Examples include federal civilian employees returning from active duty military service in support of the Global War on Terrorism or overseas contingency operations. These employees are allowed 5 days of administrative leave from their civilian duties each time they return from a deployment of at least 42 consecutive days. Other examples include voting, administrative Leave before or after a holiday or the death of President. Each agency has the authority and discretion to excuse employees from duty without loss of pay or charge to leave in appropriate circumstances. Administrative leave is limited to those situations not specifically prohibited by law and satisfying one or more of the following criteria: The absence is directly related to the department or agency s mission; the absence is officially sponsored or sanctioned by the head of the department or agency; the absence will clearly enhance the professional development or skills of the employee in his or her current position; or the absence is as brief as possible under the circumstances and is determined to be in the interest of the agency. Administrative leave is not an entitlement and agencies are not required to grant it. Other administrative leaves can occur during emergencies (severe weather), unacceptable performance and misconduct. Under 6329a (b) (1), an agency may place an employee on administrative leave for no more than 10 total workdays in any given calendar year. - 3 -
Building Strong in Korea! FED Sustainable Design and Development program By Stephen Satkowski FED Public Affairs T he Far East District Sustainable Design and Development (SDD) program can t succeed without engineers from the design, technical review and quality assurance branch leading the way. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects comply with SDD policy from the Department of the Army. Per SDD Policy, all new construction vertical projects and comprehensive building renovations meeting the minimum thresholds are certified through the Leadership in Energy and Environ- mental Design (LEED) rating system managed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). At the Far East District, U.S. funded projects are required to achieve a minimum Silver certificate and Republic of Korea funded projects are required to be Silver certifiable in LEED. The process takes time and requires a collaborative effort. Dong Shin, Chief of Far East District technical review branch, said during the early part of the design process all achievable LEED credits are identified by the design team through design charrette or other form of design activities. Continued on Page 6 Ilkyu Kim, Ho-Yon O, Sung-Ki Yi, Son-U Yi, Sang P Lee and Sung Ho (from left to right), part of the district s LEED team hold one of their three LEED Silver Certifications for the Battalion Headquarters Complex at USAG Humphreys. (Photo by Stephen Satkowski) -4-
Building Strong in Korea! EEO Corner Gossip, The Virus In The Workplace By Valerie Bradley FED Equal Employment Opportunities Officer It does not matter if you work in a small office or a large organization. In the workplace, gossip is an activity and a virus that is contagious. The Gossip Virus can spread at an alarming speed. It drains, distracts and downshift employees job satisfaction. You will notice that gossip is a noun which means it is something employees DO. That also means that is something employees choose to do and employees can choose NOT to do. Employees choose to create the Gossip Virus and enter into gossip by choice. Employees can opt out of the activity at work. In order to end gossip means to end the virus and particular type of communications. That can be talk or email communications. Gossip always involves a person who is not present. Unwelcome and negative gossip involved criticizing another person Gossip often is about conjecture that can injure another person s credibility and reputation. Guidelines In order to have a gossip virus free workplace: 1. Not speak or insinuate another person s name when that person is not present unless it is to compliment or reference regarding work matters. 2. Refuse to participate when another mentions a person who is not present in a negative light. Change the subject or state that you wish not to talk about another. 3. Choose not to respond to negative email or use email to pass on private or derogatory information about any person in the agency. 4. While off the job, do not speak to another co-worker about people at work in a derogatory light. 5. If another person in the department does something unethical, incorrect, against procedures, or disruptive, use the proper channels to report this to the person in authority to take corrective action. 6. Mind my own business, do good work, be a professional adult and expect the same from others. The bottom line is the Gossip Virus first attacks the working relationships. The gossip virus is a distraction at work and no matter how difficult the discussion may be, allowing gossip to flow through the workplace is far more damaging to productivity than trying to pretend it is not happening. If the gossiper(s) doesn t stop after your confrontation, it can be considered harassment. Don t hesitate to bring in your chain of command if there is problem you can t solve on your own. ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE The Next Observance And Awareness Event Will Be The Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Observance Recognizing Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month Was Established By Title 36, U.S. Code, Section 102. This Observance Runs Through The Month Of May And Celebrates The Service And Sacrifices Of Asian/Pacific Islanders Throughout The United States. In June 1978, Representative Frank Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This joint resolution was passed by the House and Senate, and was later signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978. This law directed the President to declare a seven day period, beginning May 4, 1979, as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. It wasn t until 1992, that Congress designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Continued on Page 6-5 -
Building Strong in Korea! ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE Continued from Page 5 May Was Selected To Commemorate The Anniversary Of The Completion Of The Transcontinental Railroad, May 10, 1869, Which Was Laid By A Majority Of Chinese Workers, And The Immigration Of The First Japanese To The United States, May 7, 1843. Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Honors Americans With A Proud Heritage That Encompasses All Of The Asian Continent And The Pacific Islands Of Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia And Easter Island), Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji And The Solomon Islands), And Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru And The Federated States Of Micronesia). FED Sustainable Design and Development program Continued from Page 4 Those achievable LEED credits are verified and adjusted during the phases of design, and all required information, calculations and photos are submitted to the USGBC for approval, said Shin. All members of the FED design team are required to have LEED accredited professionals who will lead the entire process, as well as coordinate, verify and respond to questions from the USGBC. When the design is completed, the LEED credits that still need to be approved by the USGBC are turned over to the construction contractor. The Far East District LEED consultant will work with the contractor to obtain the remaining LEED credits during construction. Far East District quality assurance representatives Sang Lee and Ho Sung oversee LEED activities during the construction process to make sure all USGBC requirements are obtained. Getting a LEED certificate is a very long, tedious process that requires continual attention in programming, design, construction and extends to operations and maintenance. It is truly a team effort, said Shin. As a result of a collaborated effort, all three buildings in Battalion headquarters complex project at Camp Humphreys designed and overseen by engineers from FED, achieved -6- LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council on Jan. 21, 2018. Since the USGBC requirements are mainly for the U.S., it is more difficult to obtain the required credit in a foreign environment like in Korea. Therefore, it is a bigger deal to have an official certificate here in Korea, said Shin. Shin said the family housing projects at Camp Humphreys and Camp Walker will be the next to be LEED certified.
Building Strong in Korea! -7-
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